The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-04
PURITY MAKES THEIR VALUE
Information from an Expert as to How
Defects in Diamonds Are Detected.
Secrets of the Trade in Brilliant Stones by
ers-Characteristics of the
Rarely Found Pure Diamond.

other day to group of gentlemen who were told
that its value $4,000, but of the party
said he could detect flaw in the stone with the
naked eye. Nobody else could see it, and the
expert went on to explain what deprecistes the
value of the gems. 81 was in Saratoga few
days ago." he said. land stepped into diamond
dealers place to see what could do in the way of
bargain. am not seller of diamonds, but
have great fondness for them. l told Isaacs
was a broker, and as looked over his stock in
no instance could / get him to name price for
any stone that caught my fancy. But it was
not 50 much to buy as to see that led me
into the place. Finally asked what he would
take for an attractive pink stone of about two
carats He could get $500 for it readily from
one who knew nothing of diamonds. l detected
carbon spot on one of its facets. 1t was minute
and would escape the eye of anyone but an ex-
pert To my inquiry to the price, Isaacs said:
Make me an offer, my friend
g I will give you SIS carat for it
" You make me sick and he hastily replaced
the diamond in the tray. just then young
man came in and showed small stud stone for
which he wanted price. '''Ill give you $40 for
it," said the dealer. The young man accepted
the offer and then took defective stone larger
in size that really worth about $50, but he
was willing to take it at $50. He let his stud go
for $40 Of that amount and paid the rest in cash.
When the purchaser had gone the dealer said to
me, L am sorry, my friend, that you told me
that pink stone had spot it. You don't
want it. Now what will you give for thisp
showing the small stud he had just taken from
his customer for ten dollars.
. Two dollars | replied
Take it, and did. but as was paying over
the money, the young man hastily came in,
VVI rnrh old 1TcV
You allowed ten dollars for that stone
when bought the other Isaacs threw up his
hands in astonishment and exclaimed, My
gracious, my friend, thought you gone
1.-THE value of diamonds" continued the ex-
pert. increases as they increase in size and
brilliancy. If one wants the best he has to pay
high for it in diamonds, as well as in anything
else; but there is permanent price for the pure
brllliants Their production neither increases
nor diminishes; hence, the value is always fixed.
nearly that it can be called a fixed
value. But this pertains to the purest, which
is always blue or rather steel white, as it is
called IN commerce A stone of that quality
can be had, according to size, for from $3.50 to
$500 per carat The next most valuable STONE
is the pink white, and then comes the pure
white Most of the marketable stones are
known as the straw or of-color. They
almost altogether from south Africa, and their
prices huctuate widely. It is only in
eastern India and Brazil that the
brilliants of rare value are found
to be cut. but the cutters there do not deal in
them. They work to order and get so much for
cutting stone. The cut diamonds go to Lon
don, New York and Boston, where they are set
reset and polished. Do you know that a dla-
mond can be split as readily piece of hard
woodf The stone has a grain that experts dis
tlngush under a magnfying- glass, and into
that grain they insert a sharp tool. and in an in
slant the diamond is in two parts. Another
feature about pure stone is that it will not
and lay there all winter, without being
sumed. When 1t is taken out in the spring none
of the brilliancy will be lost. The best dia-
mond, though, might waste away slowly under
the blow pipe. l do not know of any other
process that would destroy it. It is not an easy
matter to get absolutely pure stone. for a
large per cent of diamonds have carbon spots
in them, but in the greater number of instances
these can be detected only under magnifying
glass. There are other defects that are common
to them which only an expert careful OBJ
should not be bought under gasght. Brilliants
should be inspected in the daytime"
What Is the average price of stones usually
worn2"
THAT depends ones knowledge Of making
4 trade In this country the duty tax is to be
taken into account. l have an offer from an
IN porter in Canada who has q stone which jew
slers would sell for $3.50. 1t is only one-six-
-eeDth short of two and half carats. He will
ct me have 1t at jobberS price, $3.50 but, adding
the duty, the stone will cost me $l65. There is
wide difference between this and the jewelers.
and dealers selling price, cut it is not too much.
The retailer must be allowed enough for his
'ent and interest on the money invested In the
stone. for perhaps it has been in the shop year
Or more unsoid. Of-color stones can be pur-
chased az low as $50 per carat Pawn brokers
will advance from one half to twothirds the cost
If diamond but they never get the purest
stones. It is the off-colors that seek the pawn
brokers'. If one has valuable stone he can
convert it into much cash it him. A |
inc diamond can always find purchaser, and it |
8 in respect better investment |
hat real estate offers. Once its price is fixed it |
lever varies. jewelers. do not very often make |
dvances diamonds, but they will buy them, |
md perhaps give the seller the option to re- |
purchase at the figure paid for it by the ieweler,
With interest added. 1t is practically the same |
s putting the gem in pawn. but the jeweler
would resent any insinuation of that kind. In
ut the bankers themselves might give one
aoney them as personal transaction"
Are all the socalled diamonds in use at fash
enable gatherings elsewhere realf'
mo. Only very small per cent. pure.
he rest off-color and many of them are
lie limitations. bnt they answer under gaslight
lass backed by tin-foil shines brilliantly This
ervant-girls wear, they do what is called the
thine stone. person who has good eye for
etail and understands value very readily
btain knowledge of diamonds, but there are
lany who could not see flaw in stone if
ney had glass to magnify it."
The very valuable gems held BY Indianapolis
eople not numerous. A gentleman in Fort
wayne has the richest diamond in the State
nd a lady in this city has the most valuable ear
ngs. The figures in dollars they represent are
nder 81, 600, but there many holders of
rillants running in price from SO to 81, 600.